The Romanian Competition Council has imposed fines totaling 217.9 million lei (approximately €43.7 million) on three major cement producers—Holcim Romania, Romcim, and Heidelberg Materials Romania—for coordinating pricing policies, a practice that reduced market competition and inflated cement prices.
Fine Breakdown
- Holcim Romania S.A.: 90.9 million lei (€18.2 million)
- Romcim S.A.: 66.1 million lei (€13.3 million)
- Heidelberg Materials Romania S.A.: 60.9 million lei (€12.2 million)
Findings of the Investigation
The authority discovered that, between 2017 and 2018, the three companies exchanged sensitive commercial information, such as future pricing, discounts, and payment terms, through certain customers. This allowed them to centralize, monitor, and use the data to align their pricing strategies, effectively reducing competition in the market.
“Each company involved could reasonably foresee that information about its own commercial conditions would reach the other producers,” said Bogdan Chirițoiu, President of the Competition Council. The coordinated behavior led to cement prices in Romania being higher than in neighboring countries.
Strategic Importance of the Construction Sector
The construction sector, which heavily relies on cement, has experienced robust growth in Romania. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, construction activity increased by 18% compared to 2019. The sector continued to grow annually at a rate of 12-15%, stabilizing in 2024.
The Competition Council emphasized its commitment to monitoring the construction materials market due to its strategic economic and social significance. Cement remains a vital resource, not only for concrete production but also as a key component of numerous building materials.
Source: https://www.consiliulconcurentei.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Eng-concrete-ian-2025.pdf
